Dan Gilbert welcomes Detroit Institute of Music Education to downtown

5:49 PM, March 20, 2014

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Detroit Free Press Business Writer

Sarah Clayman, Kevin Nixon and Bruce Dickinson, music industry veterans, speak at the opening of the Detroit Institute of Music Education's pop-up performance space and admissions office Thursday. The music center will have a permanent home in September. / Tanya Moutzalias/Special to the Free Press

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Saying he is “happy but not satisfied” with downtown’s revitalization so far, Quicken Loans founder and Chairman Dan Gilbert introduced the latest attraction today — the new Detroit Institute of Music Education training center.

Known as DIME, the center will operate temporarily from a Gilbert-controlled storefront at 1520 Woodward before moving into permanent quarters in the fall in a Gilbert building at 1265 Griswold in downtown’s Capitol Park district.

DIME, founded by British music entrepreneurs Kevin Nixon, Sarah Clayman and Bruce Dickinson, is the trio’s third music training center that aims to help talented performers gain the skills and techniques needed to advance their careers.

Gilbert announced at the kick-off ceremony that Quicken Loans will endow 10 scholarships for Detroit Public Schools music students to attend DIME classes.

“The music industry is a complicated business and learning by experience can be a long route,” Nixon said. “DIME brings the information, encouragement and expertise to demonstrate how to build a successful career. Musicians will be playing in bands, meeting industry professionals, mastering technique, promoting their own shows, developing their brand, arranging songs, and many other exciting career development activities.”

Gilbert called the arrival of DIME “another brick in the wall” of downtown revitalization and said the youth-oriented music center is exactly what’s needed in the city’s core.

Michigan-based private equity firm Beringea made a $3-million investment in DIME to underwrite the opening.

“We’re excited to bring this innovative, high profile, high impact business to Detroit and provide growth capital for its launch,” said Charlie Rothstein, senior managing director and co-founder of Beringea. “DIME’s education model will attract creative young people from all over the country to Michigan while creating more jobs in the education sector.”

For more information about DIME, visit the Web site dime-detroit.com or call 313-223-1600.